Chapter 16 - Happy birthday #2
Ryan thankfully climbs in front, while I crowd Dex in the back.
He doesn't seem to mind as I pull him into my side and hug my arm around him, kissing his temple.
He melts into me and there's no greater feeling. We’ve made a long way since the confused mess I was and the tensing, unsure guy he was before I started taking him on dates.
And I couldn't be happier. While we haven't had the relationship talk, I think my intentions are pretty clear at this point and he's not pulling away.
If anything, he seems as into it as I am.
The drive is blessedly silent, the only sound a low Ed Sheeran song coming from the radio. We make good time to Dex's place and get out of the car. I go to grab his hand again to ask if he wants us to wait downstairs, when he beats me to it.
"Ok, new plan. You guys go over to the cafe and I will meet you there. Will need a large dose of caffeine so I don't go on a murder spree this early in the morning."
Ah, there he is. "No problem, baby. I'll get your favorite." I say and lean in for a soft kiss, but linger. He slowly unglues from my side, his hand swiping mine before turning into his building. I watch his silhouette until he disappears from sight and shift to see Ryan watching me in turn.
"What?" I ask, with a bit of annoyance.
"God, you're smitten." My friend says laughing, dimples fully on display again.
"No argument there." I tell him, enjoying this light feeling that washes over me. This might be a disaster, or it might turn into my best birthday yet.
We make quick work at the coffee shop and I'm already holding Dex's coffee as he rounds the corner wearing some very nice workout clothes.
A slow smile spreads across his face when he sees me and I slide into his space once I hand it to him.
He drinks deeply and lets out a low moan, my body instantly perking up at the sound.
Is it too late to go back home? I'm about to suggest just that, as forest green eyes lift to me and I get lost in them all over again.
I think I can call myself officially entranced.
Ryan breaks the silence and, effectively, our little moment, by clearing his throat. Do I really need a best friend right now? Deep breaths, I have to remind myself I love the guy, although for the life of me, I can't remember why in this moment.
"We're going!" He announces, bouncing on his heels. We all turn and head over to the rink, Dex looking slightly confused until his eyes land on the ice.
"No fucking way." He declares quickly.
I turn to argue, but he's just shaking his head left and right.
"If you have any love for me, trust me when I say you don't want to see me shake on the ice like a newborn fawn. I'll just watch you guys." He finishes confidently, but I stare him down.
The problem is, I do have love for him. Which is not really a problem at all.
I don't know if he even registers what he said, but I take the little nugget, wrap it tightly and put it in my back pocket for safekeeping.
Hope blossoms from within as I get the feeling we're closer to the same page than I first thought.
I give his hand a squeeze and try to infuse as much love in my tone as I can.
"I want you there with me, Dex. My day is made infinitely better with you being here and I want to share this little part of myself with you as well. "
He's blinking wide at me, breathing slightly heavy, as he gives my hand a squeeze back and simply states, "I'll be very bad at this."
"Not possible," I exclaim with confidence. "And I'll be with you every step of the way."
I start pulling on his hand towards Ryan, silently praying that he will follow. And that he does, to my utter delight. My friend is pulling skates for us in our sizes and he somehow manages to wrangle two jerseys with his number out of thin air. I look at him skeptically.
"So this was the plan all along? Turn us into your bunnies?" I ask him loud enough for Dex to hear behind me.
"If the jersey fits." He shrugs, giving me the full grin once more.
I'm shaking my head at his sillyness, but I drag the jersey over my head anyway.
I take the other over to Dex, who's still lacing his skates and slowly push it down his head, taking his hands and looping them through the sleeves one by one, before I bend down to finish lacing his skates for him.
The smile he gives me is so soft and enchanting, I never want it to leave his face again.
But it does, almost immediately as he stands up and wobbles.
And just to be extra, right then and there, I swoop him off his feet princess-style and take him to the rink door.
"Leon! Put me down right now, we're going to fall!
" He shrieks at me, but I just hold him tighter, waiting for the inevitable moment his body relaxes and melts into my touch.
I really don't want to put him down, but Ryan is coming from behind and, if I don't stop now, I might just carry Dex right back outside and straight to his place.
In skates. So I slowly lower him to the ground as I step onto the ice first, Ryan coming down next to me and starting to skate in small circles.
Dex is looking at us, apprehension written all over his face, so I hold out my hand and beg him silently to trust me.
It must work, since he carefully steps onto the ice and makes it the first step before his skate gives way and he nearly topples.
But I'm ready, catching him by the waist and holding him to me.
Dex looks up, fear mixed with awe and that's it for me.
If I had any doubts before this moment, there are none left.
I am wholly and stupidly in love with him.
Probably have been since the moment I saw him come out of his building when I was waiting to take him on our first date.
I want to tell him I love him here and now, but it's not the time.
Not with him slightly shaking and Ryan whooping around us.
So I steady him back on his feet, both hands planted on his hips as I start skating backwards slowly and taking him with me.
His hands land on my forearms in a bruising death grip.
"Wait, Leon! I'm going to fall." He's still somewhat shaking a bit, so I try to put him at ease.
"No, I'm not letting you fall. I'm here, baby.
Look at me, not down. Just keep your feet on the ice while we move.
And when you feel ready, bend your knees slightly and try moving your feet in an outwards sweeping motion.
Like Ryan is doing." I explain so he understands the basics, but really he doesn't need them.
I'll happily keep him up and close to me the rest of the day.
We go around and around, I slowly feel Dex trying to use his feet, but he doesn't move to step away from me and I'm absolutely not letting go.
It's been about twenty minutes, but I feel him getting tired even with me doing most of the work.
He's still using muscles he probably doesn't get to use on a day-to-day basis, while focusing all his balance on not falling. Not that I would let him.
I slowly skate us back to the door, thankful to Ryan for giving us this moment. That's when I notice a very large man, resembling a bear of some kind, sitting in the stands and lacing up. I don't focus on it too much as Ryan goes to him and does a hand-fist bro salute kinda thing.
"Thank you for doing this with me," I tell Dex softly. "You can rest now while we do a couple of rounds."
"No problem, it was... not so horrible." He replies and I let out a small chuckle at his admission. I let him go but not before stealing a kiss as he wobbles slightly to the first seat and starts unlacing.
Ryan is back with the mountain man in tow and that's when I realize he looks a bit familiar.
"Hey Leon, meet Mark. So happy to finally get you guys in the same room." He beams in classic Ryan fashion while I look Mark over and realize I do know him, except he looks completely different than his photo. Dark wavy hair almost reaches his collarbone and he’s sporting a beard that’s hinging on too long.
"Hey man! Nice to meet you!" I say and go for a fist bump, getting a grunt in response.
"Did you decide to keep the playoffs beard?" I ask, curiously.
"I didn't want to, but I was too lazy to shave and then it became this whole thing.
Then I noticed I didn't get recognised on the street anymore, or maybe people were afraid to approach.
Beats me, but it's working to keep my sanity in place.
" He says as if it's the simplest thing.
Which I guess it is. I never minded being stopped in college when I was playing, but I know I'm the type of person who likes attention and not everyone is similar to me.
"Fair enough." I say, matching his tone. "You came down to practice today?"
"I asked him to come." Ryan interjects. "The rink is ours until noon for your birthday.
Thought we could shoot the shit like old times and Mark could play goalie for us.
That way you guys could finally meet as well.
" He announces while both Mark and I look a bit awkward, like preschool kids stuck together on a playdate and told to just get along.
Guess we're doing this, but not before I bring Ryan down a peg.
"So, for my birthday, you thought it would be best to bring the goalie with the highest shutout rate in the league, so you could inflate my ego about missing every shot?" I ask Ryan, incredulously.
He has the decency to look sheepish. "I'm sure we'll get one through, anywho it's all about the fun." He declares as he gets me a stick and moves to help Mark with the net. I make a detour over to Dex again as they finish setting up.